ISS Radio management changes

MAREX-NA (Manned Amateur Radio Experiment, North American Division)
Changes planned for International Space Station Amateur Radio management
structure.
In 1996 history was made when several radio clubs from around the world got
together
with representatives from two the space agencies NASA and RSA Russian Space
Agency
and began to form a foundation for
future cooperation in Manned Amateur Radio space activities for the
International
Space Station.
>From this original meeting some good progress has been made. However the
agreements between
the different radio clubs was never officially ratified by both space
agencies (NASA and RSA).
Without an officaly ratified document, things began to slow down.
Benefits from original meeting:
Many of the groups agreed to work together
NASA officially manifested Amateur Radio as an experiment for ISS
RSA officially manifested Amateur Radio as an experiments for ISS and dedicated
several feed-through antenna ports to support Amateur Radio projects on the
Russian modules.
NASA began funding SAREX projects to look into ISS projects
As good as a beginning as it was, it did have some problems.
The original club MOU agreement was never ratified by both Space Agencies.
The original club MOU made it almost impossible for an Independent satellite
club
to participate on ISS. A monopoly had been setup in which all proposals
had to go to one specific
satellite corporation and that corporation was only approving ISS projects
developed by the
satellite corporation.
Something had to be done to break up the monopoly and get things moving again.
The engineers at RSA (Russian Space Agency) have developed a new
Memorandum of Understanding,
and it is called:
Memorandum of Understanding Between the National Aeronautics and Space
Administration (NASA)
and the Russian Space Agency (RSA) regarding Amateur Radio Operations on
the International Space Station.
The new RSA Memorandum has been submitted to NASA for review.
At this time the agreement has not been signed.
Here are some excerpts from the RSA Memorandum which I am sure many of
you budding
young Satellite clubs will enjoy:
*********
Excerpt:
Through this MOU NASA and RSA officially recognize the ISS HAM Technical Team
as the sole integrator and operations coordinate of all amateur radio
activities on ISS. NASA and the RSA also agree to the following:
1. All proposal received from any individual or organization regarding a
mateur radio related equipment or actives aboard ISS will be deferred to
the ISS HAM Technical Team for Review.
2. ?
3. ?
In its capacity as the sole integrator and operations coordinator for
ISS Amateur Radio Services, the ISS HAM Technical Team assumes the
following responsibilities:
1. Perform a fair and equitable review of all proposals from any
group or individual regarding amateur radio experiments or activities aboard
ISS.
2 - 6?
******
That was an excerpt from the Russian Space Agency RSA proposal to NASA.
The greatest benefit I see from this proposals is that it breaks up the
monopoly and opens
up the International Space Station to everyone, not just employees of
the satellite corporation.
I am sure that most of the world will agree, than an agreement that
encourages all individuals and organizations to help contribute to new
educational Amateur Radio projects for ISS is a great idea.
I hope that all you will support this new open Memorandum of
Understanding for the ISS
Amateur Radio program.
Copyright 1999 Miles Mann, All Rights Reserved. This document may be freely
distributed via the following means - Email (including listservers), Usenet,
and World-Wide-Web. It may not be reproduced for profit including, but not
limited to, CD ROMs, books, and/or other commercial outlets without prior
written consent from the author.
Images received from the MAREX-NA SSTV system on the Russian Space Station
Mir are considered public domain and may be freely distributed,
without prior permission.
DOSVIDANIYA Miles WF1F
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